Saturday, February 27, 2010

This cover is one of two new songs featured a few weeks back on Indie 103.1 Breakfast With The Smiths, so if you tuned in, you were the first to hear it. Big thanks to Jose Maldonado for having me on his show and also to Thomas Lennon for telling him about me. You guys are the bee's knees.

Please join me in listening to Breakfast With The Smiths every Sunday from 9-11am PST, hosted by Smiths tribute band Sweet & Tender Hooligans lead singer, Jose Maldonado!

What Difference Does It Make is one of the earliest Smiths songs, recorded 28 years ago. That means Johnny had just turned 19 years old and Morrissey was a mere 23 years old. The level of talent they possessed at such an early age is mind-boggling. It probably didn't take long to record the music, but most Smiths fans will spend the rest of their adult lives trying to master even a couple of these songs on guitar or attempting to write such intelligent lyrics.

It gives me the same feeling as when a group of prodigy kids gave a concert at San Francisco State University while I was attending college there. It took those kids less than one hour to squash a lifetime of musical dreams and aspirations under their cute little 7 year old toes.

After the concert:
"Well, I feel completely worthless."
"Yeah, I was going to practice but... eh, screw it. Wanna go to the pub?"
"Yep."

Monday, February 22, 2010

Hand in Glove was on the first mix CD I got from my boyfriend on the day we met. We actually met at a Morrissey concert in Golden Gate Park and the only one who did NOT show that day was Morrissey. We were both nervous, so we let our "chaperone" Ollie (the foot on the far left) do the talking as we let the sun shine out of our behinds. Ollie later became Godfather to our son. He passed away last April and we miss him terribly.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

This should have been my theme song for January and February. After a month and a half, I am finally recovering from my super-stupid-cold. I am looking forward to recording without having to stop every two seconds to hack and cough.

My version of Still Ill has a drone made of vocal loops pitched down one octave. I wanted to give the piece a feeling of being somewhat heavy and stuck in the illness but then contrast that with light and airy vocals because, to me, the act of questioning is really a sign of hope...

Friday, February 12, 2010

Thanks to my amazing boyfriend, I now have a really great microphone and tube pre-amp, vocal recording box, lots of acoustic panels to put up on the walls, and killer mastering software for ProTools. He is the one who suggested I turn this project into multi-voice recordings, he supplies me with Mozipedias, rare Smiths recordings, encouragement, feedback, and so much love. I wouldn't be doing this project, without him.

Thank you so much, Josh!!

By the way, Marzipan (my cat/favorite recording buddy) says hi. And yes, she does sit like an old man quite often.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I love what Simon Goddard (author of all things Smiths) says about this song. Basically, he says that when most rock bands are singing "oh baby" "oooh yeah" and other radio-friendly nonsense, out of nowhere comes Morrissey singing "Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate..."

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I would love to have a youtube presence but alas, I have no time or good editing software... If you're so inclined, take any of my covers and put them to something abstract or timeless. I'll post your videos here for everyone to see as well as set up a youtube channel for all 65-ish songs. Of course, you will get credit plus all of my appreciation and thanks!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

This is more of a departure from the original song and I'm pleased with how it turned out. First off, let me just say this: I am not a beatboxer nor have I ever played one on TV, ok Rahzel? I find that adding drums really gives me more options to take the music in different directions so this probably won't be the last you hear of them. I have 70-ish songs to go so it's time to start getting creative!

Also, my version is a bit darker than the original. I wanted it to have some anger and despair to match the lyrics so I said to myself, WWMGD?* Oh! and extra credit points to the first person who can name the Depeche Mode song I borrowed a melody from.

"Janice Whaley put her mind to making a 71-track a cappella tribute to The Smiths. After a year of hard, inspired work she not only succeeded, she made a very beautiful, admirable, no, ASTOUNDING a cappella album. Morrissey, et al, you should be proud of her."-Tony ViscontiLegendary record producer. Most known for producing T. Rex, David Bowie, Morrissey, and Kristeen Young.

____________

"I've never known anyone approach a task with the clear-headed vision and unwavering dedication that Janice has shown on The Smiths Project. Embarked on with love and accomplished with style!"

"For me, The Smiths Project personifies why we all love music. Janice is the rare artist that might not know how talented she is...well, the cat's out of the bag. Congratulations and don't stop. Ever."

-James RodayActor, writer and producer. Most notably as Shawn Spencer on the USA Network TV series Psych.

"As a lifelong smiths fan, I'm blown away by Janice's versions, the arrangements, her voice... I hear the songs in a whole new way." -Thomas LennonActor, comedian, writer, director and producer. Most notably from MTV's The State and Lt. Dangle on Comedy Central's TV series Reno 911!